Beautiful Word Devotional #269

[Jewish members of the synagogue] could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave [Stephen] as he spoke.

Acts 6:10

Did you know that the Greek word martys means “witness”? When witnessing to God’s truth and having faith in Jesus started costing people their lives, martys gave rise to our word martyr, a person who dies rather than denies his beliefs.

In Acts 6 we meet Stephen, a Greek-speaking Jew who spoke in the Greek-speaking synagogues of Jerusalem. He was also the first person martyred for his faith in Jesus. According to Acts 6:5, Stephen was “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.” Jewish leaders could not dispute his infuriating—yet Spirit-empowered, bold, articulate, scriptural, and wise—teachings.

The truths of Jesus Christ continue to infuriate today. The twenty-first-century world does not want to believe that there is only one way to God, but the Holy Spirit continues to empower twenty-first-century believers.

If you’re skeptical, step out in faith and in obedience to the Spirit’s guidance, and experience what Stephen did: the Spirit will provide wisdom and power.

Lord, may your Spirit enable me to speak clearly and boldly the truth about Jesus, amen.